BMW International Open Preview 2017 with Betting Tips & Odds Guide

One of the more prestigious events on the European Tour gets underway in Munich this Thursday with the 29th running of the BMW International Open, writes Matt. There is, admittedly, a notable lack of support from the US contingent but this has drawn many of Europe’s top golfers including the continent’s two most recent Major winners.

Behind the favourites in the BMW International Open odds, there is a strong chasing pack so we should be looking forward to an entertaining four days but, more importantly, can we land a third sizeable tip in succession from this tour?

Those two Major winners – Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson – lead the BMW outright winner betting market by some margin with the Spaniard the favourite at an industry best of 15/2 with SkyBet and Boylesports. Stenson, meanwhile, is the defending champion and may therefore be seen as the better prospect at 8/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral.

Of the two, Garcia had a decent showing for three rounds of the US Open before finishing in a tie for 21st. Stenson, meanwhile, was one of a number of high profile golfers to miss the cut but he has a good record in this event and 2016’s win represented his second BMW International Title.

There is a significant gap between the top two and third favourite, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger at 16/1 with Paddy Power. Wiesberger was widely expected to take his second Lyoness Open at the start of the month but while he missed out, a win at the Shenzhen International as recently as April suggests he’s in decent enough form to mount a challenge this week.

Wiesberger was 16th at the US Open but if you’re looking for form golfers from Erin Hills, England’s Tommy Fleetwood has to be worth considering at a best of 22/1 in the outrights. A notable 4th place finish could mark a breakthrough for the man from Stockport but remember that this came on the back of two missed cuts.

Elsewhere, 2008 BMW International Champion Martin Kaymer can also be picked up at 22/1 with Stan James while there is plenty of talk around Joost Luiten at an excellent top price of 30/1 with Betfred.

Last time we were in Europe ourselves we landed an each-way bet on the 50/1 shot David Horsey at the Lyoness Open. Horsey is another former champion this week, having claimed the BMW International in 2010 and while he is a 55/1 shot with Bet365 in the outright BMW betting, the 32 year old is our first confirmed Top Ten Tip at 9/2 with Bet365 and Paddy Power.

Elsewhere, another player who we’ve avoided recently is Kiradech Aphibarnrat but the Thai has just recently shown some hints of his best form. The 27 year old hasn’t won anywhere since 2015 so we’ll avoid best odds of 45/1 with Betfred in the outrights and look instead at 4/1 with Paddy Power and Stan James for a top ten finish.

Other options in the long priced punts include Eddie Pepperell who was paired with Garcia going into the US Open’s final day. Pepperell is on offer at a top price of 80/1 with Bet365 and SkyBet in the BMW International Open outright betting.

The event rotates between two courses and for 2017 we will see a return to the GolfClub Munchen Eichenreid. This is a relatively lengthy par 72 but it contains a number of holes that can be reached under regulation for the long hitters so distance could be key.

Accuracy isn’t quite such a factor and it’s a relatively forgiving course with wider fairways. Interestingly, finishes have been tight here in recent years and you have to go back to Niclas Fasth in 2007 to see a win by more than one shot at the Eichenreid. That suggests distance plus a shoot-out with the putter and based on the latter stat, Garcia is a worthy favourite.

The top two in any event haven’t been kind to us since Dustin Johnson’s last win however so we’re looking down to Wiesberger at that 16/1 with Paddy Power. The Austrian wasn’t too far off the pace at his home open and he has the required qualities to win this week.

As for top ten options, there are a host of these but we will narrow them down to Horsey at 9/2 with Bet365, Aphibarnrat at 4/1 with Paddy Power, Pepperell at 8/1 with Ladbrokes and the improving Victor Dubuisson, who is capable of a return to his very best, at 5/1 with Paddy Power.